Path Commands

Path Commands

Create a New Path

Mouse: Click the New Path button

Clicking the New Path button in the Paths palette skips the New Path dialog box when creating a new path. Paths are automatically named (Path 1, Path 2, and so on).

Create a New Path with the New Path Dialog Box

Mac: Option + click the New Path button in the Paths palette

Win: Alt + click the New Path button in the Paths palette

This shortcut opens the New Path dialog box and gives you a chance to name the new path as you create it.

Duplicate a Path

Mouse: Drag path to the New Path button

Rename a Path While Duplicating It

Mac: Option + drag path to the New Path button

Win: Alt + drag path to the New Path button

Delete a Path

Mouse: Click the Delete Path button

Delete a Path and Skip the Warning Alert

Mac: Option + click the Delete Path button

Win: Alt + click the Delete Path button

Draw Path Constrained to 45-Degree Axis

Mouse: Shift + click/drag

Add or Delete Anchor Points

Mouse: Click on path or anchor points

Photoshop 6.0 also has the Auto Add/Delete option for path tools to turn this on or off.

Select Multiple Anchor Points with Direct Select Tool

Mouse: Shift + click

Alternatively, if you are using the Pen tool, you can hold down the (Command) [Control] key to temporarily switch to the Direct Select tool.

Edit a Pathname

Mouse: Double-click pathname

Add a Path to a Selection

Mac: Cmd + Shift + click the path thumbnail

Win: Ctrl + Shift + click the path thumbnail

Subtract a Path from a Selection

Mac: Cmd + Option + click the path thumbnail

Win: Ctrl + Alt + click the path thumbnail

Intersect a Path with a Selection

Mac: Cmd + Option + Shift + click the path thumbnail

Win: Ctrl + Alt + Shift + click the path thumbnail

Stroke a Path with the Foreground Color

Mouse: Click the Stroke Path button

Stroke a Path with the Foreground Color with the Stroke Path Dialog Box

Mac: Option + click the Stroke Path button

Win: Alt + click the Stroke Path button

This shortcut opens the Stroke Path dialog box and allows you to specify which tool setting you want used to apply the stroke to the path.

Fill a Path with the Foreground Color

Mouse: Click the Fill Path button

Fill a Path with the Foreground Color with the Fill Path Dialog Box

Mac: Option + click the Fill Path button

Win: Alt + click the Fill Path button

This shortcut opens the Fill Path dialog box and allows you to specify fill options such as opacity, blend mode, feathering, and so on.

Convert Work Path into a Saved Path

Mouse: Double-click on the pathname or drag Work Path to the New Path button

Load Path as a Selection

Both: Enter or click the Load Selection button

Mac: Cmd + click the path thumbnail

Win: Ctrl + click the path thumbnail

Convert Path into a Selection with the Make Selection Dialog Box

Mac: Option + click the Load Selection button

Win: Alt + click the Load Selection button

This shortcut opens the Make Selection dialog box and allows you to specify options for the selection, such as a feathering radius.

Convert Selection into a Path

Mouse: Click the Make Work Path button

Convert Selection into a Path with the Work Path Dialog Box

Mac: Option + click the Make Work Path button

Win: Alt + click the Make Work Path button

This shortcut opens the Make Work Path dialog box and allows you to specify options for the path.

Add a Point

Mouse: Single-click

Delete the Last Point

Both: Delete

Close the Path

Both: Double-click or Enter

Close the Path at the Starting Point

Mouse: Click on the starting point

Close the Path Using a Straight-Line Segment

Mac: Option + double-click

Win: Alt + double-click

Cancel the Operation

Both: Escape

Mac: Cmd + . (period)

Win: Ctrl + . (period)

Switch to the Convert Point Tool

Mac: Option + drag

Win: Alt + drag

Adjust Magnetic Pen Width

Increase	]
Decrease	[
Minimum Width	{
Maximum Width	}

In Photoshop 7, the Magnetic Pen functionality is now an option of the Freeform Pen tool. You access it by selecting the Freeform Pen tool and turning on the Magnetic check box in the Options bar.

Adjust Magnetic Pen Edge Contrast

Increase	, (comma)
Decrease	. (period)
Minimum Edge Contrast	<
Maximum Edge Contrast

Adjust Magnetic Pen Frequency

ncrease	; (semi- colon )
Decrease	' (apostrophe)
Minimum Frequency	: (colon)
Maximum Frequency	" (quotation marks)